Can I load a 9mm bullet in a .38 Special case?

[Jinglebob]

I don’t know if this is wise or if it will work but I’ll ask all the same before I load any.

I have a couple of boxes of 124GR 9mm plated bullets but don’t own a 9mm pistol. A .38 Special bullet measures .357 and the 9mm is .355. Because the 9’s don’t have a cannula they will need to be taper crimped in the .38 case. With a good crimp I think they will be OK in my old M&P revolver.

Can this be done and still have a reasonably accurate round or am I missing something?

Thanks

 

[max]

Yes, it will work.

 

[8th SPS USAF]

9mm in 38 brass

I never loaded FMJ bullets, but when we had Python BBLs installed on/in our SW's we shot 9mm LRN all the time. Colt bbl inside diameter is , if I remember about 355/356. They worked great, mostly for cardboard/plates. I do not remember load, but Hodgdon's web site might have loading for light 38 bullets. Good luck

 

[bmcgilvray]

Sure can. Works well in a pinch and even groups fairly accurately at reasonable handgun ranges. Lead or jacketed. Use .38 Special loading data appropriate for the bullet weight selected.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a 124 gr. RN 9mm bullet mould and loaded about 15 or 20 thousand 9mm's with it but loaded 25 or 30 thousand 38 specials with the same bullet and they shot better than I do. Ivan

 

[frankmako]

yes you can. i have use 9 mm bullets in 38 special loads many times.

 

[blujax01]

You may want to check the cylinder after firing a round or two to make sure of your crimp. You don't want to risk "pushing back" the remaining bullets into their cases.

 

[dickttx]

I would definitely check them out after loading just a few. My 38 Super dies (three different sets from two brands) will NOT size the brass down enough to retain a .355 jacketed bullet. I found out when measuring the OAL with the calipers. Turning the wheel pushed the bullet down into the case.

 

[chief38]

Just as a note ----- while they may work, with fixed sight guns they will probably shoot low.

 

[ACP230]

I shot 125 grain lead truncated cone 9mm bullets out of my Ruger Blackhawk
.357 for a while. Loaded them in .38 Special cases with a target
level load of Bullseye and CCI primers.

Shot to point of aim in the Blackhawk and made good groups at
20 yards, or so.

Only switched to 158 grain LSWCs after the gunstore ran out of the
9mm TCs.

 

[growr]

I load 147 and 125 Truncated cone lead 9mm projectiles in 38 special casings all the time for my rifles in SASS.....they feed SO well and at the distances we shoot at are plenty accurate.

Randy

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
That was an old trick when there was jacketed 9mm bullets but no light
38's.
The best luck was with the Colt Python barrel as they started out
in the 357/358 size then choked down to 356/354 range,
Better for accurate shooting but the tight bore was slower than S&W.

 

[hotrod150]

I had the same idea, to try some 115 gr 9mm JHP's in my Chief Special. The .355" bullets seemed too loose a fit in the cases for my taste.

 

[hotrod150]

You may want to check the cylinder after firing a round or two to make sure of your crimp. You don't want to risk "pushing back" the remaining bullets into their cases.

You would be in danger of "push back" with a semi-auto, with a revolver having an undersized bullet "jump the crimp" is the concern.

 

[blujax01]

You would be in danger of "push back" with a semi-auto, with a revolver having an undersized bullet "jump the crimp" is the concern.

Yeah, that

Thanks.